Thompson



G. W. THOMPSON. RAILROAD SPIKE No. 519,511. Patefited May 8,1894.

UNITE-n STATES PATENT QF GE.

GEORGE'WASHINGTON THOMPSON, or LEADVI L 'oO RADo.

, I 7 RAILROAD-SPIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 519,511, dated May8,1894.

Application filed anew, 1893. Serial n0.45s,144..' (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern; 1

Be it known that I, GEORGE WASHINGTON THOMPSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Leadville, in the county of Lake and State ofColorado, have invented a new and useful Railroad-Spike, of which thefollowing is a specification. I v I Thisinvention relates to railroadspikes, and has for its object to provide means in connection with theheadthereof whereby it may be more readily withdrawn from its drivenposition, and at the same time form means by which the same maybereadily driven and that are located above the engaging flange or lipthereof; and with this object in view, the

invention consists of the construction and. arrangement of parts as willbe more fully hereinafter describedand claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view-of a portion of a railand tie, showing the improved spike in connection therewith and themanner of using a claw-bar in withdrawing the spike from its drivenposition. is a perspective view of the spike on'an enlarged scale. Fig.3 is a transverse sectional view on the line'xa*, Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts'in theseveral figures.

1 designates the sectionally rectangular shank of theimproved spike,which is provided with a tapering point 2, and 3 represents alaterally-projecting main'head or lip which extends at right angles fromthe shank 1 and is adapted totake over the rail flange. Above the mainhead with its rear end flush with the. back of the shank 1, isasupplemental head 4, having a flattened upper side to receive theimpact of a sledge or other tool which may be employed in driving thespike. The neck 8 by which the supplemental head. is connected to theupper end of the shank is wedge-shaped in horizontal section, the sidesof the neck converging toward the back of the same.

The neck terminates at the under surface of the supplemental head inabrupt shoulders 6, which are broadest at the back of the shank anddiminish or taper in width toward the front of the same. The oppositesides of the neck are beveled or concaved, as shown at 5, whereby theneck is substantially wedge- Fig. 2

shaped in vertical section, as clearly shown in or cavities'forming theneck extend through I and penetrate the front side of the supplementalhead between the plane of the lower surface thereof and the uppersurface of the mainhead. I

7 represents a'claw-bar of the-ordinary or anypreferred construction,the oppositely-arranged toes of which are adapted to be en-' gaged withthe shoulders 6, formed by the under surface of the supplemental head toenable thespike to be withdrawn. 7

The advantage of the peculiar shapeof the I neck lies in the fact thatthe necessary strength is provided to enable the spike to be drivenwithout risk of fracture, and at the same time provides shoulders 6, ofsufficient projection and of suitable shape to insure a firm engagementof the claw-bar therewith.

A further advantage of the peculiar construction described resides inthe fact that an ordinary form of spike can be altered by cutting thetapered cavities in the opposite sides thereof, as described- I am awarethat spikes'have" been constructed, heretofore, with laterallyprojecting shoulders for the engagement of a claw-bar,-

the bodyportionsof said spikes being specially constructed to give thenecessary strength at the points of greatest strain, but intheconstructionwhich I haveillustrated an ordinary form of spike may beprovided with the ad vantages of these shoulders, and the manner 7 offorming the same leaves the spike with the necessary strength at thebase or inner end of themain head, which is the point of greateststrain. The tapering of the side cavities, to 1 produce theV-shapedneck, leaves the entire sectional strength of the metal at'the inner endof the main head.

- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- As animproved article of manufacture,a

spike having a shank 1 rectangular in cross* roe section, provided witha lateral main head 3, a superjacent supplemental head 4 flush at itsrear edge with the back of the shank, and a neck 8 connecting thesupplemental head with the upper end of the shank, such neck beingV-shaped or tapered in cross-section with its sides convergingtoward therear of the shank, concaved or beveled outwardly toward the lower end ofthe neck to intersect the sides of the spike in lines extending from therear angles of the shank to the top of the main head and terminatingabruptly at the upper end of the neck to form shoulders 6 which taper inwidth toward the front of the supplemental head, an interval beingformed 15 between the edge of the supplemental head and the uppersurface of the main head at the front of the former substantially asspecified.

In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in 20 the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WASHINGTON THOMPSON.

Witn esses F. LAMOREAUX, ELIAS PARRY.

